The nobris peters co



(No Model.)

F. H. GATES.

GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

N0. 448,954. Patented Mar. 24, 1891.

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FRANK H. GATES, OF WARE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE OTIS COMPANY, OFSAME PLACE.

CIRCULAR-KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 448,954, dated March24, 1891. Application filed June 4,1890. Serial No. 354,204. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. GATES, of WVare, in the county of Hampshireand State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Circular- Knitting Machines; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a horizontal sectionthrough the upright shaft of a knitting-machine, looking down, andshowing a plan of so much of said machine as is necessary to illustratemyimprovcments thereon. Fig.2 is a side view of part of my improveddevice, looking in the direction indicated by arrow 0, shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line A through a portion of the bedplateand the horizontal supporting wheelframe of the machine, alsorepresenting bevond said section-line a side view of another part of thedevice, looking in the direction indicated by arrow 1), shown in Fig. 1;and Figs. 4 to 7, inclusive, represent vlews of various parts of myimproved device, which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The object of my invention is to render the action of the usualknocking-over wheels of a knitting-machine automatic by combiningtherewith mechanism actuated by a cam on the upright shaft'of saidmachine, whereby the desired forward intermittent movements are impartedto said wheels, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertainsbetter to understand the nature and purpose thereof, I will now proceedto describe it more in detail.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the upright shaft of themachine. To said shaft is rigidly secured a cam B, and to. frame 0 arein turn adjustably secured the usual plates D for supporting theknocking-over wheels E over the usual rotating cylinderbed F, in theupper outer edge of which are secured the needles G. Several of saidknocking-over devices, it will be understood, are in practice locatedradially at various points around the central shaft, adapted to engagewith the needles at said points in the knitlever L, which is pivoted atd thereto.

ting operation. They are moved forward and back with short intermittentmovements to produce different designs of fabrics in the mannerhereinafter described. In knitting the body or stronger portion of thefabric the wheels bear against the needles, this being their normalposition; but when colored or tender yarn comes into action in producingthe design the wheels are moved back from the needles to relieve thepressure and prevent said yarn from breaking. ation of the knocking-overwheels between. the needles and the purpose thereof are both wellunderstood by those skilled in the art to which this invention relates,it will be unnecessary to further describe the same.

My invention relating only to the mode of operating said wheels, aspreviously stated, the description will be confined mainly thereto, and,for convenience in said description, to one device, as shown in thedrawings.

The knocking-over wheel E is arranged to turn on an inclined studsecured in a.movable frame 11, which is fitted in any convenient mannerto work out and in a short dis- As said oper-v tance on the outer endof' the spindle I, and at the same time is prevented from turningthereon, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Said spindle is fitted in theusual hollow swivelbearing J, mounted horizontally on thesupporting-plate D and having the set-screw D for holding said bearingin position from turning on its swivel after adjustment. The spindle Iis held from longitudinal motion in swivel-bearing J after adjustment bythe circular lock-nut J on the swivel-bearing J, having alongitudinally-serrated periphery, and a spring-latch J secured to saidswivel-bearing and adapted to engage with said serrated surface to holdthe nut from turning. (See Figs.

1, 3, and 6.) Just inside of the frame H is' secured on spindle I acollar K, which serves to hold said support from turning, (through themedium of pins 0 in this instance,) and at the same time as a fixedbearing for a rocking The outer end L of said lever is bifurcated orforkshaped (see Fig. 3) and fits over a pin 6, projecting out laterallyfrom the upper part of the frame H, while its inner end rests on theouter end of a swinging lever M, pivoted at its opposite end uponasuitable frame N, secured to wheel-frame C. Said frame N also serves toguide the lever M in its vertical movements, which are imparted byaratchetwheel and pawl device actuated from the cam 13 through the leverO in the following manner: The ratchet-wheel P of said device isarranged horizontally and fitted to turn on a suitable bearin gin frameN. It is so arranged as to bring a ring Q, fitted to the top sidethereof, in line vertically with the lever M, as is shown in Fig. 1.Said ring rests on the wheel just inside of its teeth, and is adapted tobe adjusted circularly thereon to vary the time at which theknocking-over wheel is required to be moved forward or back in producingthe desired design of fabric, being detachably fastened to the wheel bymeans of pins and holes f and g, respectively, as is indicated in Figs.4 and 5. Back action of the ratchet-wheel P is in this instancepreventcd by means of a spring-actuated stud m, fitted in a suitablesocket in frame N and adapted to engage with the teeth of said wheel, asis shown in Fig. 1. Lever O is pivoted to the base of frame N at 71.,and its inner end is adapted to engage with cam B, while upon theopposite end thereof is pivoted the pawl R, which engages with the teethof the ratchet-wheel, being held in engagement therewith by a suitablespring 1'. A suitable spring 7t is also disposed around the pivot 71 ofsaid lever to force it back into its normal position when the pressureof the cam on end 0 is removed. A depression or notch j is formed in thetop of ring Q, and the lever M is provided with a projection or pin kenits under side, Preferably made vertically adjustable and adapted torest on the top of said ring, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. structed andarranged, it is obvious that at each revolution of upright shaftA theratchetwheel and its ring are turned one notch forward. \Vhile theprojection or pin 7e on lever M rests on the level surface of ring Qduring the above operation, it will also be apparent that, owing to theinner end of lever L being held in an elevated position, the wheel E isheld in its forward or outer position between the needles G; but uponthe depression j in ring Q arriving under said pin is the latternaturally drops into it, thereby permitting the abutting ends of leversL M also to de scend a short distance, and in consequence.

said wheel E is drawn back the distance required through the connectionspreviously described. Unless the inner end of lever L is sufficientlyweighted to overbalance the weight outside of its fulcrum and thefrictional resistance of the wheel E in pulling back the same, asuitable spring must necessarily be employed for depressing said innerend when the latter is permitted to descend, as previously described. Inthis instance I accomplish said result by means of a spiral spring Z,interposed between the top of the The device being thus eon-1 lever(back of its fulcrum) and a fixed point above said lever.

Any other equivalent means for the above purpose may be employed in lieuthereof, if desired. I also reserve the right to make such modificationsin the other parts of my improved device as may be deemed advisableunder diiferentcircumstances in carrying out the principle of myinvention.

The intermittent reciprocating movements of wheel E may be varied inlength,duration, and frequency by employing rings Q of different sizesand thicknesses, by varying the size, depth, and number of theirdepressions j, and by constructing the other parts of the device toconform therewith, according to the yarns and fabrics to be knitted.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing specification that I am enabledby the use of my improved device to obtain any desired longitudinalmovements of the knocking-oier wheels, and that, too, by an automaticope z tion, thus rendering the operation of knitting more accurate andperfect, and, in consequence, resultingin the production of a superiorgrade of goods at less expense than by the old method.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a knitting-machine, an intermittent laterally-reciprocatingknocking-over wheel, in combination with a rocking lever engaging at oneend with the bearing of said wheel, a swinging lever engaging with saidrocking 1ever, a ring mounted on a ratchet-wheel, en gaging with saidswinging lever, said ratchetwheel, its pawl, a lever upon which saidpawl is mounted and which engages with a cam on the upright shaft, andsaid cam, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a knitting-machine, the combination of rotary knocking-over wheelE, its movable support H, and spring-actuated lever L, pivoted to asuitable support and connected with said part H, with lever M,operativcly connected with a cam on the upright shaft through aratchet-wheel, its pawl, a ring on said wheel, and a cam-lever and saidcam, whereby the inner end of said lever L is intermittently depressed,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a knitting-machine, the combination of lever L, pivoted to asuitable support and having means for imparting vertical movements toits inner end, with the movable frame or bearing II and knocking-o verwheel E, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a lniitting-machine, the combination of lever M and means,substantially as described, for operating the same, including a cam onthe upright shaft, with lever L, whose outer end L is adapted to engagewith a pin on frame II, said frame H fitted to work toward and from theneedles G, and knockingover wheel E, fitted to turn on said frame H,substantially as andfor the purpose set forth,

5. 'In a knitting-machine, the combination of knocking-over wheel E, itssupport, and 1ever L, with lever M, having the projection or pin is andpivoted upon frame N, said frame, ratchet-Wheel P and its ring Q, meansfor holding the ratchet-wheel against back action, spring-actuated pawlR, its lever O, and cam B on shaft A, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. A device for automatically operating the usual knocking-over Wheel ofa knitting-ma chine, comprising in combination witha cam on the uprightshaft, a lever O, the springactuated pawl R, mounted on its outer end,

ratchet-wheel P, having means for holding it against back action,adjustable ring Q, mounted on said ratchet-wheel and having a notch j inits upper side, lever M, having the projection or pin k, lever L, collarK, movable frame H, mounted on the usual knocking-over spindle I, andknocking-over wheel E, fitted to turn on said movable frame,substantially as shown and specified.

FRANK II. GATES.

W itn esses:

A. A. BARKER, W. B. NOURSE.

